From time to time I have mentioned my two greyhounds, Prada and Groovy. We have had them for about 4 years. Right after we got them, I came home and my wife said, "Here, taste this." Of course I did. It was meat. Then she asked, "does it taste okay to feed the dogs?" When my wife said those words, my position in the food chain as food taster to a pair of greyhounds was fixed. I will be the first to admit that our two rescued greyhounds are spoiled. I do not mean spoiled like spoiled children, oreven the way grandchildren can be spoiled. No, these pets go way beyond that.

Take their diets for example; they love barbeque! Whenever we barbeque, we throw a couple of chicken breast or salmon burgers on the grill for them. One of their favorite treats is rotisserie-roasted chicken but no skin and no bones. For a change of pace we will serve ground beef--only 95% lean ground beef; after all, these athletes have to watch their weight. For variety, we also serve them meatballs--Italian style with spices, no less. Sometimes we go to a fast food drive through to buy them hamburgers–hold the bread and onions. They also love roast beef sandwiches.

Along with my duties as official greyhound food taster, I am also the official chef for the dogs. That title was established when we first adopted the two greyhounds. My wife tried to give them medicine in the form of pills. They did not care for the pills and learned to spit them out. Soon they refused to eat anything offered by my wife. They eat only what I feed them, and they are picky eaters. Prada will not eat until Groovy starts to eat. Groovy will not eat if my wife or I are in the room; we have to leave the room. sometimes I think they are smart than us and are training us.